1. CHRISTMAS MESSAGES: HOPE AND SILENCE

2. The silence of unanswered texts or email messages can be deafening.

3. The people of Israel in Christ’s day awaited a seemingly long delayed response.
In the midst of some oppressive and uncertain times, they readily expected the words of Isaiah to be fulfilled within short order and their oppression under the Roman empire would soon end at the hand of the Messiah.
Though they had good reason to expect God to intervene on their behalf, the form of this intervention, became the issue.

4. “But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish.”

5. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them
Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 41:8-14)
This is a message of hope for Israel; they ought not fear even the most dire circumstances for God is with them and His promise is to bring help to them in the face of enemies.

6. This passage became a touchstone for the oppressed people of Israel, a real hope that their cries for help would be heard and responded to by the God of creation.
As history played out, a series of enemy invasions seemed to communicate that God was not going to respond to their cries for help. Would God ever fulfill this promise?
The seeming silence of God in both word and deed was incredibly deafening for the people of Israel.
Giving up hope seems like an appropriate response.

7. Yet not all had abandoned hope.
Simeon is described as righteous and devout, waiting for the Messiah and one upon whom the Holy Spirit rested.
Simeon is a man who not only interacted with the Holy Spirit but evidenced obedience to His leading in his life.
Upon seeing Jesus, I don’t imagine Simeon kept his voice down. The arrival of Jesus was in essence a breaking of the silence of God.
Why remain silent when God has spoken?

8. Anna is tragic character, an 84 year old widow who never left the temple, worshipping there, through fasting and prayer, both day and night.
Seeing the child, she too praised God for this little one, noting that He was related to the redemption of Jerusalem.
Anna excitedly shared this message with all who come to temple looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
God had spoken a new word in this child and she was fully ready to declare it to the masses.

9. Hope did not disappoint for Simeon and Anna; even though they were privy to the same silence of God as others in Israel, the hope they manifested is incredible.
Whereas hope in our world is often a “maybe,” a kind of unsure or naive optimism, in Scripture, hope is an indication of certainty.
After 700 years, can you blame the people of Israel for losing hope?
To Simeon and Anna, the silence of God did not entail that He was not present.
Simeon and Anna portray an amazing trust in the promises of God; a choice to trust despite the silence of God and the depreciating circumstances.

10. We wait on the other side of that first Christmas for Christ’s second coming. In many ways, we often long for Christ’s return in the same way the Jews of Jesus’ day longed for His first coming.
Do we live by the same expectancy as Simeon and Anna?
As it can often seem that God remains silent in our world, many followers of Jesus fail to live with an active anticipation that Christ’s coming is imminent.
The message of both Jesus and the New Testament is to be alert, be aware and be ready for Christ’s second coming.
Have you prepared a place in your heart for Jesus?

11. Our righteous living and obedience does not ensure our world will become a more orderly and safe place.
To the people of Isaiah’s day, God urged them to place their trust in Him when circumstances seemed difficult and unsure.
The message of Christmas is that God’s silence gives us opportunity to prepare to receive His word to us. God’s silence does not equate to God’s absence from us.
God’s has chosen you and His grip upon you is infinitely mighty. Circumstances do not change God’s grip … they only serve to distract us from acknowledging it!

12. There’s something romantic about the thought of a silent Christmas
There’s something romantic about the thought of a silent Christmas. The problem with this imagery is that the first Christmas was not a continuation of God’s silence, but a definitive breaking of God’s silence to not only Israel, but all of humanity, indeed to all of creation. It fulfilled a hope some 700 years in the making!